lucy violet vintage

2012-03-04T17:33:00.000+08:00

Love Letters...

(this weeks instalment of things I've got a bit of a crush on)

Vintage ride-on kangaroo

How wonderful is this guy? and he's one of two!

My daughter and I found him outside a ye olde lollie shop at a local(ish) indoor market. He is over fifty years old and the best thing about him (apart from all the obvious things) is that rides on him and his buddy are free. Gotta love that eh!

and yep that is me in the background in case you were wondering...

There are lots of vintage bits and pieces inside the shop too, I particularly liked this kitschy gal, tray at the ready, standing by the drinks fridge. Politically correct? probably not, awesomely cool? definetely!

Eight dollar op-shopped oil painting

Unfortunately the artist's name is nowhere to be found which is a pity because I'd love to know...

Its background reminds me of old-fashioned lino, and the red, blue and black cubist shapes made me think of this mural painted on the exterior of Rose Seidler House*

Image from, more info and all round good blog here

*maybe a bit of a stretch...but it's the first thing that popped into my head when I looked at the painting

The little boy is holding a box with the words Echo Margarine written on it. Echo margarine was made in the U.K. and named Echo because it was said to be an echo of real butter. Awwww cute!

This

vintage Thai silk dress $2.99 at Salvo's

(forgive the blue scribble, some people prefer to remain incognito)

I nervously took this dress in just before I needed to wear it. At three bucks I figured it wouldn't be the end of the world if I wrecked it. Although my stichin was a little wonky, especially the arm holes (and I solved this little problem by keeping my arms by my side for most of the night) I was happy with the end result. Before I wear it again I am going to splash out and have it altered professionally (it was 39 degrees that day and hiding those wonky arm holes was hot and sticky work!)

Vintage souvenir tablecloth

(I've probably got more of these than tea towels actually. And that's saying something!)

linocut loveliness

This little "business card"

given to me by the cutest eighty-seven year old man. Ever. We struck up a conversation while we were waiting to be served at the Post Office. Turns out he is an ex marketing executive from the U.K. He gave one of the post ladies a hand-made chart so that she can work out the percentage of her life that has expired! I think she's 78% in the negative. In her words, a comforting thought...

Seems he's a bit of a card. I was proud of my reaction btw...oh how I laughed! I'm notoriously bad with jokes you see, I rarely find them funny. Not sure why...

Jesus, Mary

still looking for Joseph!

Now I'm going to sew a pillow slip skirt (or two)

Inspired by this

Thanks for reading x

2012-03-01T17:32:00.000+08:00

I am a lucky

ducky!

Danish-looking pull-along duck, present from my Mum

Home-made duck on blue wheels, twenty cents, op-shopped

I never dreamt when I mentioned my fledgeling collection of Ladybirds a few weeks ago that it would grow so quickly.

This is due in the main, to some lovely bloggy friends.

I've already mentioned Nelly's generous donation to my cause...gosh she has a heart of gold, the copy of Five Little Kittens she so generously gave me, is a very old one (thanks for the info Vanessa) I will treasure it Nelly.

And the Ladybird snail mail kept coming!

Thanks to:

Em (who really is a vintage sweetheart) Look what she (very sneakily!) left in my mail box

yep. you guessed it, a bundle of

(pretty special gift wrapping eh?)

vintage Ladybirds

and

darling Dee who not only sent me Ladybirds, including a rare copy of Cinderella (rare because Cinder's is wearing three different dresses) but a whole pile of lovely goodies...

more gorgeous gift wrap! which I've saved btw

do you spy the tea towels?

I'll show you them properly another time

And here's a pic of my little shelf a-la-Ladybird now

nearly there...Yay!

While I'm minding my P's & Q's, thank you to lovely Loo. Another gift wrapper extrordinaire! Her parcel came wrapped in a chiffon scarf that used to be her Mum's (awww!) and it was a beauty...

habitat, no less!

Acorn and Will blue bird (of happiness!) brooch

d.i.y kangaroo

(I had to get my daughter to help me put it together...sad, but true)

Told ya. And if all that wasn't enough, Loo also gave me the cutest vintage purse too! Can you guess what colour it was?

Spoilt rotten I was and it's not even my birthday!

There's one more. Thank you that is.

This one goes out to Claire who kindly sent me the latest issue of Vintage Life. I've never seen it in book shops or newsagents here, so receiving it was a real treat.

Now, after all those thank you's (phew!) there's one more thing I have to get off my chest:

Some of you may have noticed my little shop has disappeared into the ether...

In a nutshell, I have dropped the shop...you could say it was a flop.

It didn't feel right so it had to go. Simple as that.

Thank you (crikey! there's another one!) for your kind comments and support etc I really appreciated it and I apologise if I've disappointed any of you.

You are all the "ducks nuts" (heard that on the radio today and liked it, plus I like me a theme!)

Vintage Tea Towel Tuesday

2012-02-28T16:46:00.001+08:00

As much as I love kitschy souvenir tea towels

(and I do love them. Alot. In fact, they make up the bulk of my vintage tea towel collection)

they are not my most favoutite tea towel genre (ooh! fancy!) My favourite tea towels look alot like this one:

100% cotton, fast colours, Made in China

pretty, but not too pretty, if you know what I mean...

need I say more?

Tea Towel(s) Tuesday

2012-02-21T18:11:00.002+08:00

That's right, I have two vintage tea towels for your consideration today.

(I'm playing it safe and covering all bases)

They are both cute. Have a look and let me know which one you prefer.

Do you like:

Exhibit A

(this one's for all you crazy cat people out there)

of which (and I apologise for this) I'm not.

Exhibit B

( this one's, you guessed it, my dog-gone favourite)

I actually like both tea towels really. They are both made of lovely Irish linen and their colours in the flesh are alot brighter than they appear in these pics. I know the doggy one dates from the 70's because I spoke to its old owner when I bought it (at a Swap Meet) and my guess is (evil) pussy cat does too.

Before I go walkies with our loyal hound, I just want to make a little disclaimer:

I like all animals. Apart from most birds (due to an unfortunate incident in a chook pen when I was a kid). And while I'm not fond of cats I don't really hate them, they're just not my cup of tea. o.k.

Now I feel better.

It's time to walk the dog. See ya x

p.s. thanks for all your interesting comments on my anal cleaning tendencies. Glad I'm not the only crazy Virgo (or otherwise) out there.

2012-02-20T16:13:00.003+08:00

This is dedicated to the ones I love...

Robin Annual 1970

two, not so little girls, who simply hate helping their Mummy do the house work. Or keeping their bedrooms tidy!

btw, I know this is not going to elicit any sort of positive reaction from A and A (as far as cleaning goes) but I thought it was sweet and funny and that you might think so too...

In my quest to fill this little shelf with vintage Ladybirds I have also found some gorgeous vintage childrens annuals, too cute to leave behind getting even mustier in the oppie. I love the hilarious little stories and cunning anecdotes meant to encourage young readers to be good girls and boys. Hmmm, I wonder how successful they were...

It's those stories, the ones that don't intend to be funny, just like Shelia's Super Sweeper, that I think, are the funniest of all.

Things have changed alot since 1970. Well durr! (or even durr-Fred, which I've just remembered saying all the time when I was a kid... did you?) I don't think too many kiddos today would attack the carpets with the same zest and zeal as Shelia does, even if they were lucky enough to have a carpet sweeper of their own, do you? (and what's a carpet sweeper anyway? these days it would probably be a tiny little Dyson! A working one!)

Mine, even as toddlers, would have lost interest very quickly...it is a major coup, here at our house, if they pull their doona's up over otherwise unmade beds once or twice a week!

I know this is my fault really, but I grew up in a house where cleanliness was next to Godliness (hospital corners were de rigueur) and I didn't want to inflict the same agony and torture (this is 10 year old me speaking) on my own children. What I realize now, is that if I'd adopted a more balanced attitude to chores ( doesn't that word conjur up images of Little House on the Prairie) and cleaning when my girls were little, there'd be waaay less cleaning for me to do now. And less screaming too.

btw, I'm a Virgo, I am completely o.t.t. when it comes to cleaning. I really don't care if your house is messy (truly) but I like mine to be sparkling. If I had a cleaner, I would clean the house before she arrived! That's how crazy I am. Sooooo, it's probably a good thing my girls have messy bedrooms, right?

Gosh, I've gone way to far with this. It's definetely time to stop. And I'm about to, but not before I thank Nelly for sending me these little darlings...

vintage Ladybirds!

Hooray! My little collection has grown!

I am so appreciative of your kindness and generosity Nelly.

And here's a particularly appropriate page from the Five Little Kittens to end

Tea Towel Tuesday

2012-02-14T23:18:00.001+08:00

I know it's Valentines Day and that there is nothing romantic about a tea towel

(if by chance, the love of your life decided a tea towel would be the perfect way to say "I love you" all I can say is I'm sorry. Unless of course you love them as much as me and it was a really, really, gorgeous vintage one. Then I'd say lucky you!

I suppose receiving a tea towel on V Day, would be a bit like finding a vacuum cleaner underneath the tree on Christmas morning really, wouldn't it...)

but, Valentines Day or not...it's Tuesday. And not just any old Tuesday either. From now on, here on Lucy Violet it's Tea Towel Tuesday! (I'm a sucker for a ~~catchy~~ corny title) and, rather abruptly, I know, (but I'm tired) here's today's...

I'm not sure how old this one is, it has been handprinted and the colous are fresh and vibrant (just as you see them on your screen) so it's tricky to be sure. 80's, I think. What intrigued me about it is the illustration of the Honey House Motel in the background...want to see what it really looks like? (yep there really is one! I couldn't quite believe there would be, here in Australia, or anywhere else in the world, for that matter)

Just like the tea towel!

image source

The Honey House was established in Kuranda, North Queensland in 1959, the adjoining motel was built in 1968. I love that naive looking bee on the sign, it's still there too btw. More info and recent pics here.

We are going to a wedding in North Queensland at the end of the year so a visit to the Honey House could be on the cards. I would love to know if you've ever had the pleasure. Please drop me a line if you have.

Here's an old brochure to help you plan your trip

Every unit has a fan!

See oddities of nature galore!

source

Actually, when you stop to think about it, tea towels can be quite romantic, in their own way really, can't they...

p.s. if you're desperate for love, here's a link to last year's Valentines Day post. I had only just started blogging, so it's a lonely little post, not a single comment!

Touched by Angels

2012-02-12T17:10:00.004+08:00

Last night Anth and I hit the big smoke to watch the Australian premiere of the magical Place des Anges, a free aerial show, where "angels" suspended 120 metres above the streets of Perth "flew" through the night sky and showered the audience below with feathers...two tonnes of feathers to be precise. It was awesome. Magical and moving. I am so glad we went, if you get the opportunity promise me you'll go too.

I am such a silly duffer! It wasn't until we were about to park the car that I discovered that the battery in our camera needed charging. Insert swear word here. The photos I'm about to show you were taken with Anthony's very cheap/basic/crappy mobile. One or two are surprisingly good. Although I don't think photos do the performance justice really, even the professional ones I've seen fail to capture just how spectacular the angels looked against Perth's beautiful modernist Council House

had to show you a pic

I love this building.

image source

`or the reaction of the crowd to the spectacle above and, by the end of the performance, all around them. Talk about seeing things through the eyes of a child...for 30 minutes I felt like I was six years old! Forty years younger, waaaaay better than any face lift!

Anyway, here are Anthony's pics

Angel flying through the sky, feathers in tow

They're feathers btw, not fireworks or an exploding building!

As you can see we were very close to the action, this angel was descending from the sky and landed (ever so lightly) on the ground in front of us. The large white shape in the foreground is an enormous "balloon" angel which floated and bobbed among the crowd. I think this photo is rather special...don't you?

A blurry photo but another look at the balloon,

that's St Georges Cathedral in the background.

Another beautiful angel on her way down from heaven

The next photo is not one of ours, it was taken in Buenos Aries (2010), but I wanted to show you a pic of the aftermath and what it was like to be among all those feathers.

Joy!

And here I am feathers, not flowers in my hair...

not the greatest photo of me, but what the heck! I'm including it...I'm still finding feathers in the strangest places! It took me ages to get them out of my hair, there's probably a few still there!

2012-02-08T18:32:00.002+08:00

Love letters...

sweet aren't they...

(things I'm head-over-heels for at the mo)

This little shelf

surreptitiously picked up from the verge when I droppped off my daughter at a friend's...she would've been mortified if said friend had seen me. Ha-ha!

It was, however, a risk I was willing to take.

Honestly, would you have driven past and left it behind (for someone else to nab?) I. Don't. Think. So.

Anyway, the phrase "Mum, you're soooooooo embarrassing!" is frequently uttered round these parts. I'm used to it. Water off a duck's back etc. I can think of worse ways to be embarrassed by your Mum, can't you?

Vintage Ladybirds...

One day I would like my new little shelf to be crammed with lovely Ladybirds and nothing else. This could take some time though as these little books are tricky to find here. Its taken me over a year just to find the ones you see!

Yesterday I was thrilled to find Cub Scouts and Do You Know? at our local Vinnies, so they're out there, somewhere...I just have to hunt them down!

Pilates, me hearties

Joseph Pilates (1880-1967) with coloratura soprano Roberta Peters, February 1951. Image via.

image via

I started Pilates almost a month ago and although I do NOT look as glamorous as Roberta (far from it in fact!) I do love it.

p.s. I want a leotard just like Roberta's.

With a frill.

I'm also loving this pile of books from the library

and

my NEW SPECS

so I can read them without squinting!

Truly eye-opening!

(can't believe I put it off for so long!)

Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum')

especially when you've been told "nothing will grow in that spot!" ummmmmm, Hello???

Chihuahuas...

real

and otherwise

illustration from Wonders of Nature, 1974.

I also think it's a wonder of nature that this blog has one hundred and sixty nine followers! A wonder, and wonderful.

Thank you to you all.

2012-02-04T16:20:00.000+08:00

Not all wolves are big and bad,

Illustration by Les Gray

from Little Red Riding Hood

vintage Little Golden Book, published in 1972.

(and I'd kill Grandma too, for lashes like that!) *

sometimes they're tiny and good, just like my friend Nadine (a.k.a. Woolfy)

Woolfy has just opened a teeny-tiny little shop she calls tinyWOOLF. In it you will find beautiful, little treasures, hand-made by Woolfy herself, all so petite you'd think only a fairy could make them.

To remind yourself that good things do come in small packages, click here and here to check it out. Woolfy would be very happy to meet you, she's lovely, nothing at all like this scary chap...

Promise.

* not really!

2012-01-31T20:54:00.001+08:00

One of my bloggy intentions this year was to return to Lucy Violet's roots and resume showing you my collection of vintage tea towels. They've been squashed into the "third drawer down" for too long. Poor things. I think it's about time for some more tea towel lovin round these parts, don't you?

Today's is a beauty.

It ticks all the boxes. It's got everything you'd ever want in a vintage tea towel and more. See...

told ya!

The really cool thing about this t.towel (apart from the obvious and the fact it cost a mere twenty cents!) is that we found it in an op-shop on our way to an art installation featuring more than 300 of them!

Call me a dag, but I think that's pretty awesome.

The installation (or exhibition really) examines the production and use of souvenir tea towels. It reminds us to look beyond their intended use and appreciate them as cultural mementos.

That's what I think anyway, you can read a fancier description here.

If you've read Lucy Vi for a while you'll know how much I love a colourful, kitschy tea towel, and you'll also understand how excited I was to have a look at 300 of the little darlings crammed together in one room.

It was quite an interesting exhibition...most of the t.towels had been embellished in some way (embroidery, screen printed etc) not quite what a tea towel purist like me (ha!) was expecting. I know, I make a sucky critic!

I like this quote taken from the Spin Cycle blurb:

click to make it bigger

(unless you've got fancy-schmancy new specs like me!)

Pile, Naomie Hatherley, 2008

Spin Cycle is open until the 26 February.

And btw, you can see more vintage tea towels here on Lucy Violet, in the weeks and months to come.

Kangaroo Paws

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas...

2011-12-25T20:26:00.000+08:00

Wherever you are...I hope you've had, have, or a having a lovely, lovely Christmas.

Got the message?

op-shopped dress, vintage jacket, retro Chrissy sign

Don't forget my Christmas give-away. It's a goodie. Just click here to check it out.

Catch you on the flip-side xxx

A Little Gratitude and a Give-Away

2011-12-24T14:09:00.001+08:00

One of the first things we teach our kids is how to say please and thank you. Mumma, Dadda, and ta were the first words my girls learnt to say. This post is all about showing a little gratitude and saying thank you, I think it's especially important to be thankful at this time of the year, don't you?

So without any further adieu, here are some things I'm thankful for at the moment:

I'm thankful for having a family to spend Christmas day with, Anthony is away working and it would be rather lonely with just me and the girls...to be honest we'd probably be eating sandwiches for lunch if it was up to me!

My family...there was one more sister to come a few years later...

I'm thankful for receiving gorgeous presents from far-flung lands and lovely bloggy friends...

You could have knocked me over with a feather when I received a parcel from Liz yesterday. I knew Liz was sending me this gorgeous apron

A cross stitched boxing kangaroo and a map of Australia!

Apron perfection!

but look at all the other wonderful treasures I found inside her parcel...

* the most gorgeous calendar

* 150th anniversary of W.A. souvenir tablecloth in pristine condition

* one of Liz's famous hand-made tea cosy's. So thick and, well...cosy. Guaranteed to keep your pot warm and in one of my all-time favourite colour combos.

Liz makes them to order btw. You should see her liquorice allsorts cosy! Gorgeous. Click here for more info.

* a funny Scottish t.towel (I always wondered what mingin meant Liz!)

* the little book is an old grade one school reading book issued by the N.S.W. Education Department. It's a perfect example of how greatly the standards and expectations of children at this age has changed over the years (and not in a good way!) Have a look...

I wonder how this little Australian reader ended up in a charity shop in Scotland...

Lovely Max, dolls house maker extrordinaire (and all round nice girl) sent me a package of loveliness too

that groovy looking retro fabric you can see at the back is a peg bag...hands down, the nicest I've ever seen.

Please spare a thought for Max and her family. Poor old Christchurch has been battered by earthquakes again and more are expected. Some Christmas! Max was in the garden with her little daughter during the first one, she describes it like this:

"surreal. with the ground waving up and down like someone shaking out a sheet. And so long I thought it would never stop. I had to hold a tree so as not to fall"

What can I say?

I am so thankful that I have not had to endure a natural disaster like the people of Christchurch. I hope they are spared further quakes. Stay safe Max and co. Stay safe Kiwis.

To top it off, this time a little closer to home, I also received this

gorgeous vintage chenille sun-dress from lovely Tam who read I was on the hunt for one and kindly sent it over, just like that! Lucky girl, aren't I.

No pics of me in it because it's a smidge on the short side, and my legs (and my ego!) are not up to public scrutiny. Perfect for popping on over my bathers though.

I'm also grateful to be Adelaide and Annabel's Mum. They are healthy, bright and gorgeous and I love them even though their bedrooms are always messy and they drive me crazy when they fight.

Christmas 2009...I've always loved this pic

and I still need to remind them to say please and thank you btw.

Now, the give-away (you deserve one for getting this far!) To thank you for reading Lucy Vi during the year, and to wish you a Merry Christmas I am giving away a 2012 Frankie diary...

I picked up the little nativity from Vinnies a couple of days ago...couldn't resist it because it is made in Bethlehem!

All you need to do is comment. Open to anyone, anywhere. No need to be a follower, but I'd be particularly chuffed if one of my lovely followers was the lucky winner.

I don't know about you, but in my neck of the woods these things are as scarce as hen's teeth! So get commenting!

I'll use random generator to choose a winner, lets say on the 7th of Jan, that should give you plenty of time...

Please note: I've changed my mind regarding the cut-off date for this little give-away. After all, what good's a diary if you can't start writing in it in the beginning of the year! The winner will now be chosen on the 1st of Jan. I hope that's ok, it just makes more sense to me doing it then x

p.s. still looking for a new home for this

Christmas Tree Stripped Bare

2011-12-21T17:21:00.001+08:00

Here is our Christmas tree.

The tree that Anth and Annabel made...mostly Annabel, with just a little help from her Dad.

To call it simple would be an understatement.

That's what we're doing this year, keeping it simple.

Some of you will hate it...that's not a Christmas tree" you'll say, "that thing's ugly!" You might even use a swear word or two to describe it!

Some of you will think..."hmmmm, it's ok, but I wouldn't have a tree like that in my house..."

And then. There may be a few of you like me, who love it.

And love it I do.

fact

we may nev

er buy another c

hristmas tree again!

it was difficult to get a good pic, it's much nicer in the flesh...and it was tricky to decorate too...

especially when we have lots of gorgeous vintage decorations like these

$2.50 from Vinnies! (want me to repeat that?)

these

and these

In the end I decided less was more. The little baubles are vintage glass ones made in Japan, the sweet hand-made birdy is from Megan as part of Micaela's ornament swap, the pasta angel which you can just make out on the left, is from lovely Lakota and Mary's there too, because after all, it wouldn't be Christmas without her, would it!

Please find time to read this poem. I have loved it for many years...I'm sure you will too.

little tree by e e cummings

Little tree

little silent Christmas tree

you are more like a flower

who found you in the green forest

and were you very sorry to come away?

see i will comfort you

because you smell so sweetly

i will kiss your cool bark

and hug you safe and tight

just as your mother would,

only don't be afraid

look the spangles

that sleep all year in a dark box

dreaming of being taken out and allowed to shine,

the balls the chains red and gold the puffy threads,

put up your little arms

and i'll give them all to you to hold

every finger shall have its ring

there won't be a single place dark or unhappy

then when you're quite dressed

you'll stand in the window for everyone to see

and how they'll stare!

oh but you'll be very proud

and my little sister and i will take hands

and looking up at our beautiful tree

we'll dance and sing

"Noel Noel"

Isn't it lovely...I first read it in an English Lit class when I was sixteen, and it still makes me tear up...and smile, at the same time.

Feel free to let me know if you think our tree is a bit on the quirky side and you hate it

most especially, if you like it.

pssst wanna make your own Charlie Brown tree? click here to find out how...

I'm all treed out....maybe next year...

2011-12-20T15:47:00.002+08:00

The Real Meaning of Christmas

Caring is Sharing

(don't you just love this illustration, it's from My Way To God, a text book used in Catholic primary schools in the 60's and 70's. It is also the book the Nun's taught from when I was in primary school...ah memories. I spotted it in the op-shop where I volunteer and at twenty cents I had to buy it.)

Today Anthony and I dropped off a Christmas hamper we'd made up, to our local Salvation Army Headquarters. It broke my heart while I was waiting for the receptionist to tell us where to drop it off...so many people waiting for help. Desperation and hopelessness etched on their faces (I know that's a dramatic way to put it, but honestly, that's really how they appeared to me)

I felt like a bit of an interloper actually...almost guilty, because I was in the position of donating stuff while the other people in the waiting room were clearly there for help.

It was very confronting, because although we always donate something at Christmas time, we usually do it in a less direct way, like donating a present to the K-Mart Wishing Tree etc. It has made Anth and I think about how very lucky we are. Anthony said to me afterwards that he'd rather do this than receive a Christmas present (which is good because I haven't got him one yet (Ha!) and he goes away tomorrow...to work fyi, he's not going on a holiday without us or anything...although at times I'm sure he'd like to!)

I don't want to bug you or come off all hollier-than-thou (because I'm definetely NOT that!) but if you haven't done something like this yet and can afford to, please consider it. It's not too late. And you don't have to spend alot of money either. Your donation will be welcomed with open arms and I guarantee you will feel all warm and fuzzy inside just like Anthony and I did.

Now I will climb down from my pulpit. Thanks for reading.

our funny little Nativity

2011-12-18T14:26:00.002+08:00

This post is bought to you by everyones favourite reindeer...

Rudolph

How awesome is this vintage Rudolph kiddie ride?

More info and pics here

I found this vintage tray at the tip shop last year

I'll own up now to drawing on Rudolph's nose with a permanent marker...that lead reindeer was crying out for a little dab of red don't you think?

I'm pretty sure these trays were made in Hong Kong (Father Christmas certainly has a touch of the Orient about him) Souvenir trays like this are a dime a dozen, I've seen loads of them around the traps, all with aqua backgrounds, but I've never seen a Christmassy one before, have you?

In our family we don't give serious presents (read expensive) to the grown-ups. For example, this year I am giving my brother a vintage pottery Coopers beer stein (op-shopped) and a six pack of Coopers...not a bad present for a bloke, but after seeing this on Aesthetic Outburst I'm inspired to break out the glue gun and make it waaay more special...

a six pack of Rudolphs!

don't you just love this?

so clever, so easy, so cute!

I know my brother will.

And here's another Rudolph-inspired idea you might like to try

it's Adelaide and a Rudolph cup cake. I made these a couple of years ago and they were a big hit, especially with the kiddos. Self explanatory, so I won't go into details except to say I always use this recipe and that his antlers are made using pieces of Curly Wurly.

Adelaide is our very own Rudolph at the moment - she had sinus surgery on Friday and let's just say her nose would give Rudolph a run for his money!
I shouldn't joke, she's had a horrible couple of days and been very brave, poor kiddo.

And now to end here's Dino Martini

and a very cute vintage stop motion animation (even older than me!) to boot.

As much as I love Dean's version it's missing the funny bits I loved as a kid, you know: "like a light bulb" "like Monopoly" etc etc. I thought I was hilarious when I sang those bits in my loudest voice...I was a big dag, still am probably...

told you (that's me, the smug kid on the right)

p.s.

Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer was written by Robert L. May and first appeared in print in 1939, the song was adapted by his brother-in-law, Johnny Marks in 1949

2011-12-13T17:32:00.000+08:00

I found this letter to Santa when I was rummaging through the Christmas decorations (funny how my girls call him Santa when we have only ever referred to him as Father Christmas...a bit like aitch which they also insist on pronouncing as haitch no matter how many times we correct them...anyway that's another story...)

by Annabel, aged four and a half

Guess what? Santa forgot a couple of things, namely the "miny aple ipode" and pink "tellephone". He came good on the bike, not sure if it was as cool as Brielle's though...

Annabel is fourteen now. (Sadly) she no longer writes to Santa, she writes a Christmas List. Two lists actually... a draft, followed by a reality check and then a real one. This year she wants a trampoline. Yep. We were surprised too, but honestly, what parent of a fourteen year old girl wouldn't be happy with this request!

I'll say no more...cough-cough.

While I'm taking you on a trip down memory lane, here's another pic of me and Father Christmas, I'm about eighteen months old...

fat as butter and still looking like a rabbit caught in the headlights. Don't you think he's a lovely looking Father C? and his "grotto" looks interesting too...it's the Santa cave! (the F.C. cave didn't sound right)

(No prizes for guessing where Annabel's curls come from)

Another quick give-away to end...

Almost identical to this one which I posted off to Sherry yesterday...same coasters, different city.

Just send me a comment if you'd like them, and they're yours. First in, first served.

Remember you don't have to live in Melbourne...they just might be the perfect stocking stuffer for a friend or rellie who does...

p.s. In the background you can see our el rustico Christmas tree for this year. Freshly made this morning by Annabel and her Dad. Not decorated yet, I'll show you pics when it is.

2011-12-11T20:27:00.002+08:00

Putting up the @$*)%#(%! Christmas tree

At the risk of sounding like the Grinch of Christmas trees, I have to admit, I hate putting up ours. This is undoubtedly due to the fact that:

a) I'm a Virgo
b) I'm a perfectionist
c) I'm anal about decoration distribution

At our house I am known as the Christmas tree Nazi, and although I'm not proud of this title, there's no denying it...I am not cool or laid back when it comes to decorating our tree.

our tree 2009

I know this is silly, I know I'm a control freak and I know I'm stifling my childrens creativity etc etc. Even though our funny little shop house is currently a l-o-n-g way from perfect I'm afraid I can't chill out and live with a wonky tree (and this coming from someone who loves wonky?)

It's traditional, at our house to put up the tree twelve days before Christmas (none of this 1st of December business here!) A convenient tradition for someone like me, wouldn't you agree...

Anyway, today, after much nagging from the girlies, I ventured into the depths of our shed to hunt down our tree and decs (we've got some lovely vintage ones I've collected over the years) and guess what? I was granted a reprieve because our white Christmas tree has turned yellow. And you know now, don't you, there's no way that thing's getting decorated!

Now I'm on the hunt for a new tree. I really like these:

Possibilitree

Plywood Christmas Tree

X Mas Tree

But these trees...as much as I admire their makers creativity, leave me cold. I do not get them, do you?

Would I be a complete failure if I gave in and decorated one of Anthony's ladders?

Save up those empties!

What the?

(all images via)

I'm not sure what we'll end up with, but I do know it will not involve empty stubbies, ladders or tripods...

And just to prove I'm not a complete and utter stone cold b****, and that I do let my girls make a mess (sometimes) here's a pic of the gingerbread ~~men~~ people Annabel made yesterday

it's only the tree I'm (really) psyco about

mwah

2011-12-07T19:46:00.015+08:00

Just a few little things I'd like to share with you...

" bring me sunflowers crazed with the love of life "

Eugenio Montale

three sunflowers in a vase

Vincent Van Gough August 1888

(image via)

One of the blogs I really like to read is Tanya's Suburban Jubilee. Tanya lives in Tasmania and writes about living a slower more meaningful lifestyle. The way we live couldn't be more different - Tanya makes her own shampoo, I buy mine from the hairdresser's but even so, I find her thoughts and tips on living more sustainably, interesting and inspiring...maybe one day we'll have a bigger vegie patch and grow more than just basil and tomatoes...

A while ago Tanya told the story of Ed, a young man who sadly took his own life, and of his family's committment to help people understand and cope with depression. You can read (and I hope you will) the whole story here.

Ed's Mum grew a field of sunflowers spelling out the words love, live, enjoy as a tribute to her son and as a way to draw attention to suicide and depression. She sells seeds from these special sunflowers to raise money for The Nettlefold Foundation and this is where Tanya comes in...

If you buy a packet of Ed's sunflower seeds from Tanya before the end of the year, she will post them anywhere in the world for free.

I received mine yesterday. At only three dollars a packet, I think they'd make a lovely little Chrissy gift for the gardeners in your life or you could plant some with your kiddos and watch them grow together...

Tanya also makes (from scratch! herself!) the loveliest gardeners soap...each cake in it's own little hand-made jute bag, perfect for tying under your tap and cleaning those grubby garden hands with...

a clean bathroom, and you wont break the bank either...

these little rustic lovelies are only five bucks each!

Contact Tanya here

Lastly, a quick spur-of-the-moment give-away...

open to everyone, but probably most appealing to the Crow Eaters out there...

retro coasters

A Starlight Product

Melbourne Australia

Let me know if you'd like them and they're yours.

p.s. I'm happy to post them anywhere, not just to S.A.

p.p.s. A Crow Eater is an Aussie nick-name for a South Australian, we West Australian's are known as Sandgropers...more on that another time.

Newsflash: the kitschy Adelaide coasters have a new home. Yay! Sherry from Hello Vintage, an Adelaide girl through and through, has nabbed them.

2011-12-05T19:23:00.009+08:00

Nana Ryan's Christmas Cake

Elizabeth Mary Ryan is my Dad's Mum, this is her recipe. She gave it to my Mum when she was an inexperienced newly-wed (she also told my Mum that my Dad was used to having his undies ironed! it was years before my poor Mum learnt that this was a fib!) Please don't let her little nasty streak stop you from trying this cake though. It is absolutely delicious. Very moist and easy. Your whole house will smell like Christmas while it's baking. That's a promise.

Here she is with my Pop at my Mum and Dad's wedding reception in 1961

Nana Ryan's Christmas cake has been part of my Christmasses since I was a baby, but this year is the first time I've made my own. I was strangely a little bit nervous about the end result (I didn't want to let the team down) but to my relief (and delight!) it turned out perfectly. This may have had something to do with the fact that I baked it in the very same Eve Ware cake tin my Nan used (and my Mum after her) Incredibly this tin has been used by women in my family for more than one hundered years! Pretty special eh?

My first Christmas - I was 3 months old

(Father Christmas looks like he was made for the job!

I don't look to keen on him either!)

Anyway, although Lucy Violet has never been a cooking blog I really wanted to share Nana Ryan's recipe with you just in case you'd like to try it...

This post is also a tribute to Nana and to my lovely, lovely Dad who died when he was only forty six. I thought of him alot while I was cooking it. He was a great Dad and I miss him.

Here's what you need:

p.s. feel free to scroll down if you're not interested.
p.p.s I'm sure my Mum has tweeked this over the years...

1kg dried mixed fruit
1/3 cup chopped dried apricots
1/2 cup chopped dates
1/2 cup of brandy or whiskey

I used brandy in memory of a brief but full-on flirtation with Brandy Alexanders when I was younger.
Please note, you will, and should use waaaay more alcohol than this. Half-a-cup is merely your starting point!)

1 green apple, peeled and grated
50g slithered almonds
1/2 cup glace cherries
250g unsalted softened butter
1t of finely grated orange rind
1 cup brown sugar
4 eggs
2 1/2 cups plain flour
1t baking soda
1/2t ground nutmeg
1t cinnamon
1/4 cup of extra brandy or whiskey
but remember my earlier note on this!
Extra glace cherries and blanched almonds to decorate the top of your cake if you want to

And here's what you need to do:

1. Place dried fruit in a non-metal bowl. Douse liberally
   with brandy. Stir and cover tightly with cling film.
   Stand for several days, each day add a good glug of
   brandy, stir and cover tightly again.
   I do this for a week, I think you should too.

2. A week has passed. Stir in grated apple and slithered
   almonds.

3. Beat butter, orange rind and sugar until thick and
   creamy. Add eggs, one at a time and beat until just
   combined.

4. In a separate bowl, sift flour, baking powder and
   spices. Fold into creamed butter mixture alternatively
   with your lovely brandy soaked fruit, until well
   combined.
   My Mum's tip is to use clean hands for this, but I
   managed with a spatula.

5. Spoon into a deep 22cm cake tin which has been lined
   with three sheets of baking paper. Base and sides. This
   is very important. The baking paper should sit 3cm
   above the rim of the cake tin.

6. Make the top of your cake pretty with blanched almonds
   and glace cherries, this is what I did...

7. Cover the top of your cake with a piece of baking

paper, it won't actually touch the cake, it should

sit on top of the paper you have lined the sides of the

tin with.

Bake in a preheated 140 degrees celcius oven for 3 -

3 1/2 hours. Check with a skewer. It should come out

as clean as a whistle.

Breathe in those delicious smells that are about to

fill your kitchen.

My Mum never cooks hers for longer than 3 hours and I

found mine was ready then too. I suppose it depends

on your oven...

And here it is, just out of the oven

taa-daa!

8. Remove cake from oven. Sprinkle with brandy while

it's hot and wrap tightly in a clean tea towel.

Leave in tin to cool.

When cake has cooled down, remove it from tin but don't

remove baking paper, especially from base - this helps

to keep it moist (and a moist Christmas cake is a

must!) Wrap in foil and store in an airtight container.

From now until Christmas, feel free to "paint" your

cake with brandy or just dribble it on top like me...

it will get better and better as time goes by (and as

brandy gets added!)

Serve in small slices, it's very rich

Hope this post wasn't too boring...

let me know if you give it a go x

2011-12-03T14:30:00.005+08:00

Happiness is...

taking a punt that pays off...

buy one sealed box marked xmas decorations from a garage sale, only a couple of bucks...probably full of junk, but at that price worth the risk...

get it home, rip it open, and...nestled amongst tinsel that's frankly seen better days...you find (shrieks of joy here)

these

And

they

WORK!

(just look at Father Christmas, isn't he lovely...and ok I admit, slightly scary...)

freebies from the op-shop...

two Hobbytex cushion covers and a groovy vintage sheet

these were filthy, but it's amazing what a soak in Napisan and a good old fashioned scrub can do. Although I think the lady in the oppy thought I had something wrong with me when I (gleefully) took them off her hands. I think there was some confusion about just who, was doing who a favour...

a trip to the local library...

especially when you spot this book on the shelves

and, even better...

your friendly librarian gives you the heads-up that Adrian Franklin's new book Retro, is about to hit the shelf and she gives you first dibbs to borrow it when it does! (this is a huge deal, as it's a bit like the quick and the dead at our library when interesting books make it to the "new arrival shelf")

and a quick word on Retro: if you think someone you love would like this book for Chrissy (hint hint) Dymocks has a special offer at the mo...purchase a copy of Retro and they will give you a copy of Adrian's (I say it like he's a friend of mine Ha!) Collecting The 20th Century. Yep. I reckon that's a pretty cool freebie, don't you...

Click here for details.

Happiness is also

a vintage happy coat

(of course!)

It was the label that got me

well labels...I really like the Queensland Made tag too

And lastly

(phew! it's ok, I can read your mind...)

we all know

happiness is...

a new puppy (and an old one too)

Dotty Dog, hand-made beautifully by Allana using a vintage pattern and an old army blanket. You can buy your own, just in time for Christmas, here

Have a lovely weekend. Lucy Violet's going all Christmassy starting Monday, I hope you will pop back then x

2011-11-29T07:50:00.003+08:00

Do you like this?

Dinah Shore House. Architect Donald Wexer built 1965

this?

Allyn E. Morris Home-Studio built 1958

or this?

The Walker Residence completed 1959

To those of you who do, take my advice and check out this new to me blog. It's awesome. If you like your mid-century architecture, textiles, furniture, ceramics etc. etc. you will be in raptures. Raptures I tell you!

All images via Mid Centuria. Clickety-click.

Our own, very lovely modernist home built in 1963

until recently

(sniff sniff)

Still learning to love our funny 1920's shop/house...

get the picture?

Things have improved btw...and at least we've still got some terrazzo

AND

a roof over our heads!

and I am very grateful for that

(but it's nearly Christmas and there's nowhere to put the tree...I know, pathetic! But sometimes I can be a bit shallow like that)

"be it ever so humble there's no place like home"

right?

Best end before I get all teary

x

2011-11-25T18:50:00.001+08:00

words: Robert Louis Stevenson

illustrations: Eloise Wilkin

from A Child's Garden of Verses, Little Golden Books, 1957

(my copy 1977)

A few lovely things that have made me happy lately...

a parcel of Christmas goodies from this flamboyantly fashionable girl as part of Lakota's Christmas swap. Unfortunately the postie was a tad heavy handed in his delivery of Sarah's gorgeous parcel, damaging some of the other contents in the process of flinging it over our (admittedly) high front wall. Naughty postie.

Cool Chrissy card Sarah and I love those pineapple pot holders. Thank you x

Receiving the One Lovely Blog Award from Sharon who has a very lovely blog herself. Sharon's Sunlit Memories is a must see if you are interested in the wonderful illustrations that were a feature of children's books in the 1960's. She also has a collection of vintage paper dolly books to die for, here's one of them

The perfect award for me...considering my husband thinks I use the adjective lovely far too frequently on this blog. I'm afraid I've tried, but I just can't come up with a better alternative...and anyway I like the word lovely... it's a lovely word.

Now the tricky part...I'm meant to nominate five lovely blogs. To make it easy (because obviously I think all the blogs I read are lovely) I'm choosing from blogs written by fellow West Australians. Here they are, please check them out.

1. Tammi's little poppa

2. Wolves at the Door

3. Brown Paper Packages

4. Aliya's Paper Moons and Macarons

5. and sweet Em's Vintage Sweetheart (thanks for visiting me at the oppy on Sunday's Em)

I'm also meant to tell five random facts about me (this will be riveting. ha-ha)

1. I love cheese. Waaaaay more than chocolate.

2. I hate sad movies. The older I get the more I avoid them.

3. I am, and always will be, a book-worm.

4. Lately I have been really getting into Jonathon Creek.

5. I have a crush on Kevin Mc Cloud (I hope my husband won't mind me saying this...sorry Anth)

BORING!!! but thanks for the award Sharon x

Receiving a lovely (there's that word AGAIN!) little reindeer from Marlour of Planet Fur

hello christmas tree

Now it's my turn to craft it forward. Yikes! I was thinking of these pot holders I made from vintage hankies...

but looking at Marlous perfect little deer, I'm not sure they're good enough...

their backs are probably nicer...

than their fronts.

I'll have to put my crafting hat on...

Discovering beauty in a bunch of decaying roses

like I say "some things get better with age"

I know it's either feast or famine around here, thanks for persevering I really appreciate it x

2011-11-19T21:12:00.002+08:00

Take one slightly daggy vintage dress

a little bit Laura Ingalls...

a little bit Laura Ashley

Search for your trusty not-so quick unpick (oh that's right, you've got one here)

Remove those little black ribbons, that scratchy nylon lace and those home-made shoulder pads (scarily made from crepe bandages) Roll up the sleeves (waaaay easier than sewing) Add a tan belt (another no-sew fix), chuck on a pair of wedges and...

Voila!

the perfect

(I'm gazing adoringly at our new paving, in case you're wondering...)

Summer

Maxi.

And that my friends, is more than enough of me for one night...possibly for EVER!

2011-11-16T15:40:00.001+08:00

It's all about the...

bird.

A-well-a, everybody's heard about the bird

Bird, bird, b-bird's the word

A-well-a, bird, bird, bird, the bird is the word

A-well-a, bird, bird, bird, well the bird is the word

I was the lucky winner of this gorgeous little birdy brooch in a bloggy give-away held recently by Liz Jones (of Betty Jo fame) on her newest blog Gleaners Inc.

It's quite confusing, because Liz writes three blogs and I keep on getting them mixed up. I think she's one of those annoying Superwoman types actually...because in addition to the bloggy stuff, Liz also designs and makes unique jewellery from vintage lino AND she is El Presidente (and chief bottle washer I suppose) of a lovely little shop called Gleaners Inc. It's full to the brim with all things cute and kitschy. Wow! (feeling a tad inadequate? I know I am...)

Here's a recent Gleaners window

no prizes for guessing why I fell in love with it...

You can find Gleaners Inc. at 2 Ballarat Street Brunswick in Victoria (oh the fun my husband and I had when we lived in Brunswick! years ago now...) but Liz is happy to post her treasures anywhere.

Now before I end, I really want to share these beautiful re-purposed Tupperware light shades with you. There's a vague connection between lino and Tupperware isn't there...often found in kitchens? pretty colours? Maybe not, they are lovely though and because I might forget to share if I don't post this now...introducing the

Tupp-A-Lamp!

by Frank Criscione

What do you think? Yep or Yuk?

(brought to my attention by Rosalie Malham of Notions)

And just in case you want to get down to The Trashmen, and you know you want to...

Have fun x

p.s. thanks for giving me the bird Liz x

btw I used the word annoying in the nicest possible

way...amazing would be more appropriate.

2011-11-15T15:19:00.000+08:00

Isn't this

the sweetest, prettiest, cutest little sewing caddy

you've ever seen...

I think so.

Made entirely from vintage sheet scraps (yep. scraps. the bits you might, and I most definetely would, throw in the bin) by the lovely and talented Tammi.

Tammi is a Perth girl (Yay!) who sews, cooks, preserves, throws the most beautiful parties AND home schools her children! (I know) She's a little bit Nigella, a little bit Martha, a little bit Mother Theresa (in my opinion you'd have to be to home school your children. I feel the beginnings of a headache just thinking about it...)

Thanks to Tammi's generosity I will never have to hunt for my most used sewing tool, the quick unpick, again (the person who came up with that one is a big fat liar!) Thank you Tammi, I love it x

pretty vintage sheet covered buttons. awwwww.

(also by Tammi)

I'll end with a pic of my newest tea towel

memo to self: I must photograph more tea towels.

2011-11-14T20:05:00.000+08:00

A funny old fellow called...

Humphrey

Lots of little Aussie girls and boys grew up watching Here's Humphrey. Where you one of them? It is one of the longest running childrens television programmes in Australia. First broadcast in 1965, over 3000 episodes were made until it ceased production in 2009.

When I was a kiddo I was glued to the telly whenever Here's Humphrey was on. I loved him. And Patsy Biscoe.

Many years later, from time to time, my girls watched him too...although I have to say neither of them were huge fans...actually, to say they lacked my devotion would be a massive understatement.

They grew up watching The Wiggles and Hi-5...clumsy, funny, old Humphrey didn't cut it. An overweight bear who couldn't talk = Boring!

These days Humphrey B Bear "stuff" is quite collectible. A squeaky rubber Humphrey like mine in the top pic sold recently on ebay for $113! I paid four dollars for mine.

Recently I hit the Humphrey trifecta

Metti rubber Humphrey toy

vintage Humphrey sheet

hand-painted Humphrey cereal bowl

I also have a night-light like this

(pic not mine, you can buy this one here)

I'll end with the Here's Humphrey theme song. This is the original and I think, the best:

What a funny old fellow is Humphrey,

He gets in all manner of strife,

He leads a very exciting life,

And honey's his favourite fare,

Which is hardly so very surprising,

He's a really amazing old bear,

What a funny old fellow is Humphrey,

Humphrey the fun loving bear!

cute, isn't he...

2011-11-03T13:30:00.000+08:00

I have met so many lovely people since I started this blog...a few in person and others in a more old-fashioned pen friend-ish kind of way.

Before I became a blogger I was actually pretty negative about computers (just ask my girls, they'll tell you) In my opinion they got in the way of lots of other good things like reading books, writing letters, talking to people etc etc. These days (although I'm not completely won over) I am beginning to see that computers actually have a strange charm of their own. I am writing more letters lately than I ever wrote before I started this blog. And I'm receiving my far share too. This is the nicest part about being a letter writer...knowing if you take the time to write a letter/card/quick scribble you'll usually get one back.

And although I wouldn't say I stalk the postie, when I'm home I do keep a close eye on him, because a good old-fashioned letter with my name on it is one of my most favourite things.

Speaking of mail, yesterday's was particularly special because I received this parcel of goodies from sweet Allana

Tassie Rocks! and so do you Allana.

vintage tea towel perfection, love it.

I began this post on Wednesday, but didn't have time to finish it...good thing too, because just look what was waiting for me when I got home this afternoon

another lovely parcel, this time from the Queen of Posing, and all round nice girl: the one and only Nelly!

I've been spoilt rotten...

see.

(the Kurt Cobain biography is a present from Nelly for my husband, a Nirvana fan from way back. He'll love it Nelly)

Check out this detail from the Telecom Tower tea towel Nelly sent me. It's hilarious and I love it...

Do you think he's about to pop the question?

I hope he hasn't got any left-overs from dinner stashed away in that mo...don't like his chances if he has...

I'm sure you can think of a much funnier caption than I can...I might award a prize to the best one...

To end, here are four friendly bloggy things you might like to do today:

1. Visit Allana and Nelly

2. Check out the lovely and inspiring new issue of Covet Garden magazine here

3. Pop over to Leah's, she's got the loveliest new bathers in stock

I'm wondering if I should buy myself another pair...

4. Write a letter, or scribble a quick postcard if a letter is too tricky. You'll make someone's day and you might even get a lovely proper letter in return.

p.s.

How special is this vintage postcard Laura found in an op-shop? She sent it to me because she knew I would love it, who wouldn't?

s.w.a.l.k.

2011-11-01T19:18:00.000+08:00

Meet my ~~girlies~~ I mean ghoulies...

ghoulie number one a.k.a Adelaide

and ghoulie number two, it's Annabel (and her best friend Jess)

Lovely aren't they...I am so proud.

Hopefully it's still Halloween somewhere in the world...

p.s. two posts from me today, albiet short ones. Check out my earlier post for a lovely vintage Melbourne Cup photo...lots of lovely hats x

2011-11-01T10:11:00.001+08:00

Are you hatting up today?

Members' enclosure, Melbourne Cup

David Beal, Life in Australia 1968

(Have just noiced woman in pink having a fag... hat tick, handbag tick, gloves tick, cigarettes tick...isn't she gorgeous?)

2011-10-31T14:09:00.001+08:00

There's no flies on you guys, that's for sure...

I know Nick's not the only perceptive one out there, but I do especially love her comment on the grandiose, and let's face it, totally ridiculous statement I made on Friday ie: I no longer op-shop.

Here's what she wrote

Ah, so you no longer op-shop eh...eh? I dare you to say that to me in six months time with total truth, no sidelong glances...no shuffling of the feet, no changing the subject.

Ummmm, shuffle-shuffle, cough-cough...try two days Nick!

I have to admit, I have had a slight relapse. It's time to 'fess up...yesterday I succumbed and bought this

this

and this

In my defence I just want to say that it's not always easy when you volunteer in an op-shop to resist temptation. And I have done a marvelous job (until yesterday) I still haven't checked out the three oppies just minutes from my new job, and I've almost worked there for a month!

So on that note, I think I'd better temper what I said on Friday with this disclaimer:

I will continue to op-shop when the mood strikes me, but I will be extremely selective about what I decide to buy.

I think that just about covers it...you've seen the garage sale pics...I NEVER want to go there again!

I thought it would be fun to end with a tea towel

Have you missed them?

I haven't linked to Sophie's for ages, here goes...

2011-10-28T21:29:00.004+08:00

A ~~quick~~ word on our Garage Sale...

Picture the Boxing Day sales in your mind and you've got a pretty good idea of what our garage sale was like. I'm not exagerrating. Honestly. For the first hour or so it was crazy. Manic. Frenzied even. There was pathos, tragedy, commedy...our garage sale had it all! We were not expecting the crowds that gathered on our verge waiting for us to open. At all. And I wouldn't be lying if I said there was a bit of pushing and shoving as our roller door opened...I know I can blame some of this behaviour on those green and white bakelite canisters. They were cheap, very cheap, but it was a garage sale after all, not a glorified vintage shoppe...and things are meant to be cheap at garage sales, arent they?

Anyway...we sold heaps of stuff, made a tidy little sum and at the end of the day still had enough left-overs to fill at least five good-sized boxes with treasures for Vinnies. We were brutal here and didn't keep anything (almost anything, see below) It was good stuff too, but we wanted it gone and out of our lives (and sheds!) Anthony tells me that alot of it is on display in their front window but because I no longer op-shop (I can't believe I've just typed that!) I am yet to see it for myself.

The nicest part of the day was meeting some lovely bloggy friends...Caroline, Sarah and Em (sorry if I missed anyone, but if you were there you know how hectic it was x) and neighbours we hadn't met before. We also loved giving things away (love doing that) like this basket of "grannies"

which we gave to a neighbour who cares for severely physically disabled children. They are just the right size to keep them warm while they are sitting in their wheelchairs. Lovely.

I'm also having fun sending a few little parcels of vintagey goodies to people I think might like them...there were some treasures that I just couldn't donate to Vinnies when I know people (maybe you're one of them???) who would love them.

I'll end with this

2011-10-22T20:33:00.000+08:00

Garage Sale...

thank you and goodnight x

2011-10-20T17:07:00.000+08:00

A word on John Waters: BRILLIANT.

We haven't laughed so much in ages. It was shocking, without a doubt, but very funny. The only downer was that I forgot to bring my camera. This was v. silly because not only did Mr Waters do a meet and greet after the show (how many celebs do that these days?) but also because I was unable to take any pics of The Perth Concert Hall, a beautiful Modernist building I had almost forgotten about.

This photo isn't mine...it's not a particularly good one either (this coming from me!) but it's better than nothing...

The Perth Concert Hall, construction completed 1972

image from here

And while searching for C.H. pics I found this one, here

I couldn't believe my eyes! It's one of our favourite buildings! Anthony and I have driven into the city (Northbridge) on many occasions just to check it out. On our last little "pilgrimage" (not so long ago) it was still a functioning electrical repair shop. We could see the little old man working away inside through the front window. Now it has been abandoned, probably awaiting demolition...we had dreams, as you do, of buying it and making it our home. Well, that's one dream that's been shattered. Sigh.

Anyway...I am over. Totally. Our garage sale. So no pics today. Instead I'll end with a quote from John Waters

you have to remember that it is impossible to commit a crime while reading a book

for someone described as a shock auteur supreme, he has alot of quite sensible ideas.

2011-10-19T16:57:00.000+08:00

I promised I'd show you this photo of me when I found it, and today's your lucky day ( tongue planted firmly in cheek here) It turned up while we were sorting through stuff for our garage sale and it's guaranteed to make you laugh. Please don't judge me.

" What the...!"

I wore this to my primary school fancy dress party in 1970 something...

What was I thinking? God knows! (get it) I could blame my...I'm going to call it...quirky...costume on my Mum, but that would be a lie (and good little Catholic girl's don't do that) because it was entirely my choice. All the other little girls went as fairies, brides, ballerina's etc and what do I rock-up as??? Sister Kylie!

All I can say is I must have been a total loser or the biggest suck-hole ever. Probably a bit of both. Look at me though, I think I look gorgeous. I must've been chanelling my inner Soeur Sourire specially for the photographer. I'm serene, radiant and...tragic!

I did give my outfit a bit of style by opting for my black lace ups over my brown school sandals though, don't you think?

Anyway tonight (and I'd better say a few Hail Mary's before we get there) my husband (Anthony not Jesus) and I are going to see this wild and crazy guy

He is one of Anthony's favourite's (think Hairspray, Polyester, Cry Baby, Pink Flamingos) I don't know what to expect really. I'm looking forward to it though...I'm expecting it to be a bit like a car crash - you don't want to look but you just can't help yourself.

To be continued...

Just a few g.s. pics to end

need a barrel for your biccies?

I may struggle to part with this one though...

2011-10-18T15:29:00.007+08:00

Although we're not selling the kitchen sink (not at this garage sale anyway!) we do have a piece of prime real estate for sale. What are your thoughts on Tudor Revival? No, not really my cup of tea either, but this little gem comes fully furnished and would make the perfect home for a young couple starting out, or a more mature couple looking to downsize. It would also be a great investment property to add to your portfolio...close to shops, public transport, schools etc this home will rent quickly.

Ok, that's enough of my (crappy) sales pitch. I'll let the pictures do the talking...

Yep. It's a Fisher-Price Tudor dollshouse circa 1980.

Garage door rolls up and down and door bell rings (Fancy!)

Here's a few interior shots (Inside Out and co, eat your hearts out!)

I think they call this a "chef's kitchen"?

"I'm sorry for being a naughty girl Mummy. I won't do it again. Let me in. Pleeeeese"

you could sit and watch those fames flicker forever...

a touch of Carl Larsson in the master bedroom

and

I love this 70's-ish wall hanging in the nursery

Cheap as chips out our garage sale, well, waaaaay cheaper than the one's I've just seen on e-bay anyway!

(btw, these clever people are making their own dolls houses: Max, Claire and Carmel if you'd like to have a look...)

We've also got one of these for sale

a 1970's pac-a-pic picnic set, made in England.

(just like those Fisher-Price flames...I could sit and watch this video for hours)

Looks cool, not too sure if it's practical though. It would be the last thing you'd feel like washing when you got home from your picnic! Here's what it looks like inside

four of these all stacked up. A strange 70's take on a Japanese Bento box. Well, kind-of, Bento boxes aren't put together with an "occy strap" like this is

Sticking with orange, what self-respecting g.s. would be complete without one of these?

when I found it in the shed my first thought was these

And before I head back out to the shed to sort through more ~~junk~~ treasure, we are also selling tonnes of

tapestries!

More tomorrow x

2011-10-17T13:26:00.000+08:00

Our garage sale, just scratchin the surface btw, more pics to come...

Canisters anyone?

we've got a few sets...

choose

from

See.

Maybe vintage Pyrex tickles your fancy? We've got plenty of that too...

just a smidge to whet your appetite.

We've got ramikens a plenty too...we were slightly obsessed with the humble ramiken at one stage...still to unearth some of the groovier ones...but they will be for sale too.

Not the "Boyd's" though, Anthony says no.

(see here for more info on this)

Cat person?

we've got pussies galore!

you knew I was going to say that, didn't you...

2011-10-16T08:20:00.001+08:00

Thirty five degrees! The perfect day to trot out my pretty new vintage-inspired bikini. Have a look, isn't it lovely...

I never thought I'd wear a bikini at my age, until I bought this one. Not only is it extremely well made, comfy and utterly gorgeous, it does an amazing job of showing off the nice bits, while keeping the wobbly bits safely covered up at the same time (e.g. excellent bottom coverage)

If you're nervous about shopping for bathers, don't be. It's so not worth getting your knickers in a knot over. Honestly. Forget about beating yourself up in front of one of those unflattering change-room mirrors. There's really no need, check out My Sister Pat for gorgeous retro swimwear that fits all shapes and sizes, or better still, do what I did and send lovely Leah from Bells Belles Vintage an email. I bought my bikini from Leah and she was a delight to deal with. I know you'll think so too.

I love this pic from My Sister Pat don't you?

2011-10-15T09:17:00.000+08:00

Seen one of these before???

I found it among the ~~junk~~, ~~crap~~, ~~rubbish~~, treasure we have ~~accumulated~~, ~~hoarded~~, collected over the years, in preparation for what will be the mother of all garage sales...and believe me, I'm not exaggerating when I use the word mother. It's going to be huge. And good. And cheap.

More details and pics (lots of pics!) to come.

p.s. now that I've rediscovered the Wife-O-Meter, I don't think I'll be able to part with it (how could I?) but there will be lots of other things, just as kitschy that will be for sale.

Where's the blue arrow pointing on your Wife-O-Meter today?

2011-10-10T15:44:00.000+08:00

Pumpkin Scones anyone???

Yesterday sweet Em (aka Vintage Sweetheart) kindly gave me three vintage tea towels. My favourite (and if you're an Aussie, particularly a Queenslander I know you'll totally get why) is this one

Awesome in oh so many ways...

The Low on Flo...

Florence Isabel Bjelke-Petersen, member of the Australian Senate from 1981-1993 and widow of the longest serving Premier of Queensland, Sir Joh.

Here they are on their wedding day in 1952

When asked to name the greatest event of her life Flo answered getting married.

"I thought I'd reached the stage where I was going to be on the shelf"

On the shelf! She was only 31!

(Lucy Violet was 37 when she got married btw)

Flo (or more correctly, Lady Bjelke-Petersen) was famous for greeting journalists and dignitaries with a cup of tea and pumpkin scones, yep, this is where the tea towel comes in...I have never tried Flo's iconic recipe, have you? I'd love to know what they taste like if you have.

Flo is 91 years old and she still has her Driver's Licence (amazing!). Here's a pic of Flo and those famous pumpkin scones taken to clebrate her 90th birthday last year

image The Courier-Mail

I love her secret to reaching ninety "keep your brain working and I do believe that is good, instead of having it rusticating here at home all the time"

Good advice from Flo and I love that word rusticating, don't you?

verb (used without object)

to go to the country.

to stay or sojourn in the country.

Thanks for the t.towels Em, I love them x

2011-10-07T18:17:00.001+08:00

I'm dreaming of a...

turquoise kitchen.

(image from, and more here)

2011-10-04T17:07:00.000+08:00

Nana chic...

how it should be.

Perfection. Without over thinking it.

I love this pretty but very simple bedroom. Chintzy curtains, chenille bedspread, vintage flower prints, fresh flowers, and the carpet. Oh how I love that gorgeous floral Axminster!

Such a charming unpretentious room...even the lumpy bed looks comfy.

Fancy an escape to the country? This little 50's weatherboard is located in Trentham, Victoria. A small town seventy minutes from Melbourne (and also Lucy Violet's birth-place) check out more pics here. You should see the old dairy that comes with the house! Here's a pic to tempt you

imagine the possibilities...I am.

(both pics from here)

2011-10-02T18:26:00.001+08:00

Today we went to the Perth Royal Show, my favourite thing? sadly, it was the Churro (chocolate sauce and fresh cream on the side. yum.) I demolished in two seconds flat! Seems like nothing much has changed...

Here I am, at the show with my beautifully dressed Mum, Dad and sister. I can't believe my Mum is wearing pantyhose and my Dad, a sport's coat! These days jeans, short shorts (never mind the legs!) and thongs are de riguer. Anyway, I'm the fat kid clutching with grim determination to my little Arnott, Mills and Ware's biscuit case. Apparently I screamed my head off if anyone was brave enough to try and take it from me...and from the expression on my face I don't doubt this for a second. My Mum believed that a fat kid was a healthy kid and as you can see, I was a very healthy little girl! Ha!

I love this photo though, it's one of my favourites despite my rather piggy-ish appearance.

"this little piggy..."

Some quick notes on The Perth Royal Show:

Established in 1831 as a showcase for W.A agriculture, livestock and industry.

Although events like sheep dog trials, wood chopping and equestrian events are still held, the main reason people go to the show today is to spend oodles of money on showbags and terrifying rides...and in my case, Churros!

if those guys in khaki don't win a prize, this game's definetely rigged!

a touch of Modernism, see it in the background...

(not a pair of pantyhose in sight!)

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!

oooh! scary!

And to end, a pic of the first and only time I have been on a Ghost Train...

with Annabel, Luna Park, St Kilda.

This was taken on our way in...we closed our eyes the second we "crashed" through whatever those doors are called that you crash through and our eyes remain closed for the duration of the ride. I am still a scaredy-cat: (the Chair Lift was my only "ride" today!) Annabel however, likes them fast, high and vomit inducing! (just like her Dad and big Sister...)